Closure with insertable tamper indicator

Abstract

A tamper-evident dispensing closure is provided with a base suitable for attachment to a container. The base has a deck defining a dispensing orifice and an anchor-receiving opening with an adjacent anchor-retention structure. A lid is provided to close the orifice and defines an aperture spaced from the dispensing orifice when the lid is seated on the base. A tamper-indicating element is provided with an anchor retained in the opening below the deck in the base. The element has a first segment extending from the anchor through the base opening, between the base and lid, and through the lid aperture. A second segment extends from the first segment and is disposed adjacent a portion of the lid to inhibit movement of the lid from the closed position. A first frangible connection joins the first and second segments at the lid aperture. Preferably, a second frangible connection joins the first segment to the anchor at the anchor-receiving opening in the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tamper-evident dispensing closure comprising a base suitable for attachment to a container, said base having a deck defining a dispensing orifice for communicating with the interior of the container, said base defining an anchor-receiving opening and an adjacent anchor-retention structure;   a lid adapted to be (1) seated on said base in a predetermined orientation to occlude said dispensing orifice, and (2) moved from seated orientation to permit the dispensing of the container contents through said dispensing orifice, said lid defining an aperture spaced from said dispensing orifice when said lid is seated on said base; and   a tamper-indicating element having (1) an anchor retained in said opening below said deck by said anchor-retention structure, (2) a first segment extending from said anchor through said base opening, between said base and lid, and through said lid aperture, (3) a second segment extending from said first segment and disposed adjacent a portion of said lid to inhibit movement of said lid from said seated orientation, and (4) a first frangible connection joining said first and second segments at said lid aperture whereby said second segment can be pulled to separate said second segment from first segment at said first frangible connection to permit movement of said lid to expose said first segment as an indication that said closure has been opened.   
     
     
       2. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid is connected with a hinge to said base; and   said lid aperture and base opening are generally aligned when said lid is seated on said base, said aperture and opening each being located generally 180 A  from said hinge.   
     
     
       3. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid defines a generally flat, transverse, top; and   said lid includes a portion which functions as a platform against which said second segment can be disposed.   
     
     
       4. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said lid includes a generally cylindrical wall having an interior surface; and   said lid defines a pair of spaced-apart, parallel channels along said interior surface below said lid aperture.   
     
     
       5. The closure in accordance with claim 1 in which said base deck has interior surfaces that face the top of said container when said base is mounted on said containers;   one of said interior surfaces defines an engaging surface adjacent said anchor-receiving opening.   
     
     
       6. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said anchor includes (a) a central stem, and (b) a pair of arms which have a laterally divergent orientation relative to said stem, said arms being resiliently deflectable to (1) accommodate temporary deformation as said anchor is initially inserted into said anchor-receiving opening and said arms are urged closer together, and (2) substantially return to said laterally divergent orientation engaged with said engaging surface to prevent withdrawal of said anchor from said opening. 
     
     
       7. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said engaging surface is a land around a portion of said opening. 
     
     
       8. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said anchor includes (a) a stem, and (b) an arm having a radially outwardly divergent orientation relative to said stem, said arm being resiliently deflectable to (1) accommodate temporary deformation as said anchor is initially inserted into said anchorreceiving opening and said arm is urged closer to said stem, and (2) substantially return to said outwardly divergent orientation engaged with said engaging surface to prevent withdrawal of said anchor from said opening. 
     
     
       9. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said tamper-indicating element includes a second frangible connection joining said first segment to said anchor at said anchor-receiving opening in said base whereby, after said second segment is initially pulled to separate said second segment from said first segment at said first frangible connection and after said lid is moved to expose said first segment, said first segment can then be pulled to separate said first segment from said anchor at said second frangible connection leaving said anchor visible in said anchor-receiving opening as an indication that said closure has been opened. 
     
     
       10. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said tamper-indicating element has a generally right angle configuration. 
     
     
       11. The closure in accordance with claim 5 in which said tamper-indicating element is made from a synthetic polymer material; and   said first frangible connection is a web formed from a reduced thickness section of said material across the width of said tamper-indicating element.   
     
     
       12. The closure in accordance with claim 10 in which said material defines a V-shaped notch forming said web. 
     
     
       13. A tamper-evident dispensing closure comprising a base suitable for attachment to a container, said base having a deck defining a dispensing orifice for communicating with the interior of the container, said base defining an anchor-receiving opening and an adjacent anchor-retention structure;   a lid adapted to be (1) seated on said base in a predetermined orientation to occlude said dispensing orifice, and (2) moved from seated orientation to permit the dispensing of the container contents through said dispensing orifice, said lid having a platform defining an aperture located generally above said base anchor-receiving opening when said lid is seated on said base; and   a tamper-indicating element having (1) an anchor retained-in said opening below said deck by said anchor-retention structure, (2) a first segment extending from said anchor through said base opening, between said base and lid, and through said lid aperture, (3) a second segment extending from said first segment and disposed adjacent said lid platform to inhibit movement of said lid from said seated orientation, (4) a first frangible connection joining said first and second segments at said lid aperture, and (5) a second frangible connection joining said first segment to said anchor at said anchor-receiving opening in said base whereby said second segment can be initially pulled to separate said second segment from first segment at said first frangible connection to permit movement of said lid to expose said first segment which can then be pulled to separate said first segment from said anchor at said second frangible connection leaving said anchor visible in said base opening as an indication that said closure has been opened.